Have you visited Gardens by the Bay lately and did you notice anything magical? If not, you’re in for a treat. 25 large-scale glass installations, 80 pedestal sculptures and two-dimensional works by award-winning artist Dale Chihuly are on display within the Gardens until 1 August. 

Shipped all the way from Seattle and installed on site, The Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom exhibition marks the American’s first major garden exhibition in Asia. But this isn’t the first time Chihuly has presented his creations in Singapore. Large-scale permanent installations of his can be seen at Resorts World Sentosa and at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Dale Chihuly, Ethereal White Persians, 2018
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, installed 2021 © Chihuly Studio
Photo by Nathaniel Willson
Credit: © Chihuly Studio. All Rights Reserved

“I’m thrilled to show my work in such a dynamic location in Singapore,” said the 80-year-old who has reimagined natural and made-made environments with his glass ‘experiments’ in museums, gardens and public spaces worldwide for over 50 years. “The natural world is an endless source for creativity, and it has been so inspiring to bring my work to life in this urban garden oasis.”

Dale Chihuly, Setting Sun, 2020, and Moon, 1999
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, installed 2021 © Chihuly Studio
Photo by Nathaniel Willson
Credit: © Chihuly Studio. All Rights Reserved

Among the highlights of The Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom exhibition are Moon, a large spherical installation which has not been exhibited since its debut in Jerusalem in 2000, and Setting Sun, an artwork designed specially for the environment at Gardens by the Bay. Both are presented in view of one another within The Meadow. 

Taycan Artcar and End of the Day Persian Chandelier, 2015 by Dale Chihuly Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
Credit: Artwork © Chihuly Studio

While some installations can be seen for free at the SG50 Lattice @ Bayfront Pavilion, Dragonfly Lake, Victoria Lily Pond, and the outdoor spaces of The Fullerton Bay Hotel; others have been set up in the Outdoor Gardens & Gallery and Conservatories (Cloud Forest and Flower Dome) where tickets can be purchased online.

Dale Chihuly Cloud Forest Persians
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, installed 2021 © Chihuly Studio
Photo by Nathaniel Willson
Credit: © Chihuly Studio. All Rights Reserved

Perhaps the most deceptively simple and fascinating works showcased at the ticketed areas are the nearly ten-metre tall Cloud Forest Persians and Reeds. “Careful transportation, precise engineering and innovative lightweight solutions were required to ensure that existing structures could support these large, fragile glass sculptures,” shared Chuck Kho, Deputy CEO of CPG Consultants who’s the appointed engineering partner. “Innovative lightweight solutions were also incorporated,” he added, to support some sculptures that weigh as much as 3,600kg.

Dale Chihuly, White Tower, 1997, and other installations
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, installed 2021 © Chihuly Studio
Photo by Nathaniel Willson
Credit: © Chihuly Studio. All Rights Reserved

Organised by Hustle & Bustle and supported by Singapore Tourism Board, the exhibition aims to make art accessible to the general public, especially for local and Singapore residents who are unable to access world-class art overseas due to travel restrictions as a result of the pandemic.

Photography by Nathaniel Wilson (courtesy of © Chihuly Studio)

Dale Chihuly, Blue and Purple Boat, 2006
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, installed 2021 © Chihuly Studio
Photo by Nathaniel Willson
Credit: © Chihuly Studio. All Rights Reserved

Dale Chihuly, Macchia Forest (detail)
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, installed 2021 © Chihuly Studio
Photo by Nathaniel Willson
Credit: © Chihuly Studio. All Rights Reserved